Push-pull lighting switch



May 23, 1933- I E. M. SORENG 1,910,645

PUSH-PULL LIGHTING SWITCH Filed OCT.. 25, 1931 26 Z6 l 34 272g 42 IN VENTOR.

Ealgsz" M. Eurer@ ATTORNEY.

Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT AOFFICE EDGAR M. SORENG, FCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 SORENG-MANEGOLD COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS PUSH-PULL LIGHTING SWITCHApplication led October 23, 1931. Serial No. 570,544.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inswitches and refers more particularly to push and pull lighting switchesfor automotive vehicles and the like.

It is an object of this invention to simplify the construction ofswitches of this character and to reduce their cost of manufacture.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of novel meansfor mounting the movable contactor of the switch for linear motionacross a terminal head carrying stationary contacts.

Another object of this invention is to provide detent means forindicating the different positions of the movable contactor and a springfor the detent means which also affords contact pressure for themovableicontactor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch of the characterdescribed which is so constructed as to enable the entire mechanism tobe assembled in a comparatively small housing.

A further object of this invention resides` in the specific structure ofthe movable contactor and its connection with the actuator. And a stillfurther object of this invention Kis to provide a switch mechanism ofthe character described in which all portions thereof are secured inproper assembled relationship upon the attachment of the terminal headto the casing.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly dened by the appended claims, it beingunderstood that such, changes in the precise embodiment of thehereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of theclaims.

In the accompanying drawing one complete example of the physicalembodiment of this invention is illustrated constructed according to thebest mode so far devised for the practical application of the principlesthereof, and in which:

Figure l is a transverse section view through a switch embodying thisinvention;

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the switch illustrating the exterior of theterminal head;

Figure 3 is a cross section view takenl through Figure 1 on the plane ofthe line Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the actuating memberfor the movable contactor;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the movable contactor; and v A Figure6 is a section view taken through Figure 1 on the plane of the line 6-6and illustrating the relationship of the movable contactor to thestationary contacts.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing in whichlike numerals indicate .like parts throughout the several views, thenumeral l represents an enclosing casing, which is preferably of'rectangular shape and comprises a fiat bottom wall 2,

end walls 3, and side walls 4. The entire casing may be formed of sheetmetal, with the end and side walls bent downwardly from the bottom Wall2. The open front of the housing is closed by a terminal head 5 formedof insulating material and secured to the outer edge of the end and sidewalls by a plurality of tanks 5 extended therefrom and bent over theterminal head.

The terminal head 5 mounts a plurality of stationary contacts 6, 7 8, 9,and 10, which maybe the heads of rivets securing terminals 6', 7', 8',9, and 10 to the outer face thereof inelectrical connection with thestationary contacts. rllhe rivets which mount the terminals 6 and 10 andform the contacts 6 and 1() also serve to mount fuse clips 11 and 12respectively. A fuse 13 is received in these clips to electricallybridge the terminals 6 and 10'; so that a. lead, not shown, connectedwith a battery or other source of electrical current, and attached tothe terminal 10 conducts current to the terminal 6 through the fuse.

The stationary contact 6 is thus a live contact andmay be electricallyconnected with the other stationary contacts through a movable contacterindicated generally bythe numeral 18. The movable contactor comprises ametal plate 19 of substantially rectangular shape with a pair of lugs 20projected from two opposite sides and a pair of tangs 21 directedlaterally from the other opposite sides. These tangs engage in notches22 formed in the opposite sides of a movable contactor carrier 23 formedof insulating material, to secure the plate 19 to the carrier.

l0 The carrier 23, like the metal plate 19 is of rectangular shape, butlarger than the plate, and has its four corners provided with notches 24into which arms 25 forming part of an actuator indicated generally bythe numeral 26 engage.

The actuator 26 is formed of sheet metal and comprises a substantially Ushaped head portion 27 having a central web 28 and side flanges 29. Theside flanges 29 have their medial portions cut out to form the arms 25,and it is observed that the height of the arms is substantially the sameas the distance between the flat bottom wall 2 of the casing and theinner surface of the terminal head 9, so that the U shaped head of theactuator is confined between the bottom of the casing and the terminalhead. Consequently the carrier 23 is held in proper engagement with thearms of the actuator upon the securement of the terminal head inposition closing the open front of the casing.

The carrier` plate 23 is yieldably urged toward the terminal head toprovide contact pressure by a spring 30 confined between the carrierplate 24 and a ball member 31 guided for movement axial to the spring,by a tubular member 32 secured,in an aperture 33 in the web 28 of theactuator head. The tubular member 32 is suitably flanged at its oppositeends to maintain the same assembled with the actuator head.

Besides providing contact pressure the spring 30 yieldably urges theball member 31 through the tubular member 32 intoengagement with thebottom wall 2 of the casing. Three recesses 34 are formed in` the bottomwall 2 of the casing in straight alignment and in the path of the ballmember moving with the actuator, into which the ball member engages toindicate the different positions of the contactor.

To effect the movement of the contactor to and from its differentpositions defined by the engagement of lthe ball member 31 in therecesses or indentations 34, the actuator has a flat arm 35 extendedtherefrom which passes through an opening 36 in one end wall 3 of thehousing. The extreme end of the flat extension is directed laterally asat 37 and has one end of an actuatin-g stem 38 secured thereto. The stem38 may be projected through the dash board 39 of an automobile, or anyother suitable support from which the switch is to be mounted by abracket 40, and carries a knob or handle 41 to facilitate actuation ofthe stem and consequently the contactor.

The mounting bracket may be secured to the housing 1 by having one endportion overlying the bottom wall 2 riveted thereto as at 42, and toincrease the compactness of the structure the mounting bracket is offsetas at 43 and apertured as at 44 to accommodate the actuator extension.The opposite end of the bracket maybe attached to the dash board orother suit-able support in any desired manner.

From Figure 3 it is observed that'the head 27 of the actuator ispositioned at one side of the casing-and is guided for movement thereinby having one flange 29 engaging the adjacent side wall 4 and its otherfiange 29 engaging a tongue 45 struck from the bottom wall 2 of thehousing.

Referring now particularly to Figure 6 it is noted that the size andshape of the contactor plate 19 with respect to the arrangement of thestationary contacts is such that when the contactor is in its extremeinward position depicted in dotted lines 46, the live contactor 6 has nocontact with the contactor late 19 so that the switch is then in its 01?position. In its intermediate position illustrated in heavy dottedlines, the live contactor 6 is electrically connected only with thestationary contacts 7 and 8 and when the movable contactor is in itsoutermost position as depicted in dotted lines 47 the, live contactor `6is electrically connected with the stationary contacts 8 and 9.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art towhich an invention of the character described appertains, that this invention provides an exceptionally compact and simple push and pullswitch which is particularly well adapted for use as an automobilelighting switch; and that by reason of its simple construction lendsitself readily to economical manufacture.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A switch comprising a box-like casing having an open side, a terminalhead closing said open side, stationary contacts on the inner surface ofthe terminal head, a movable contactor adapted for linear motion acrossthe terminal head to electrically connect different sets of contacts'atdifferent positions of its linear motion, an actuator having a partextending to the exterior of the housing for imparting 'linear motion tothe movable contactor, arms carried bythe actuator and extending acrossthe space between the terminal head and the wall of the casing oppositesaid head to hold the actuator in its plane of movement, and aconnectien between the movable contacter and said arms.

2. A switch comprising a casing having an openside, and. a 'lat wallopposite the open side, an insulated terminal head clesing the open sideparallel tosaid flat wall, stationary contacts en the terminal headexposed en the inner surface thereof, a movable contacter within thecasing and adapted upon linear motion across the terminal head toelectrically connect different groups of stationary contactsv atdifferent positions of its linear motion, a fiat rectangular member ofinsulating material with which the movablegcentactor is connected andhaving notches adjacent its four corners, and an actuator for impartinglinear motion to the movable contacter comprising a head formed ofbendable metal to substantially U shape with its central web inengagement with the flat wall of the casing and its side flanges cutaway attheir medial portions to define spaced arms which extend. acrossthe distance between the terminal head and said easing wall to properlyposition the actuator between the terminal head and the flat casing walland to slidably engage in the spaced notches at the lcorners of theinsulating member carrying the movable contacter, said engagement ef thearms with the insulating member enabling flatwlse movement of theinsulating member toward and away from the terminal' head, spring meansfor yieldably urging the fiat insulating member toward the terminalhead, and a handle member extended from the head -of the actuatorexteriorly of the casing.

3. A switch comprising a casing having an open side and its wallopposite the open side flat, an insulated terminal head closing saidopen side of the casing and parallel te said flat wall, stationarycontacts carried by the terminal head and exposed at the inner surfacethereof, a movable contaeter adapted for linear motion across theterminal head to electrically connect different groups of stationarycontacts at different positions ef its linear motion, an actuator forimparting linear motion to the movable contacter and comprising a memberhaving pertions extending across the space between the terminal head andthe Hat wall opposite to maintain the actuator properly positionedbetween the terminal head and said oppositeflat wall, an insulatedconnection between said 'portions and the movable contacter enablingfree movement of the contacter to! ward and away from the terminal head,detent means for indicating the position of the ,movable contacterincluding a detent member guided by the actuator for free movementindependent of the actuator toward and away from the flat wall oppositethe lterminal head, said detent being engageable in indentations in theflat wall upon linear movement of the actuator, and spring means foryieldably urging said detent member toward the flat wall and the movablecontacter toward the terminal head.

4. A switch comprising a casing having an open side and its wallopposite the open side flat, an insulated terminal head closing saidopen side of the casing and parallel to said fiat wall, stationarycontacts carried by the terminal head and exposed at the inner surfacethereof, a movable contacter adapted for linear Imotion across theterminal head to electrically connect different groups of stationarycontacts at different positions of its linear motion, means forimparting linear motion to the movable contaeter comprising an insulatedplate connected with the contacter, an actuator having a portionextending across the space between the terminal head and the parallel.fiat wall to properly position the actuator between the terminal headand the opposite flat Wall, said actuator portion having a transverselysliding engagement with said insulated plate toenable fiatwise movementof the movable contacter towards and from the terminal head, handleImeans projecting contact pressure and yieldably urge the detent membertoward the flat wall.

5. A switch comprising a casing having an open side and its wallopposite the open side flat, an insulated terminal head closing the openside of the casing and parallel to said flat wall, stationary contactscarried by the `terminal head and exposed at the inner surface thereof,a movable contact-or adapted for linear motion across the terminal headte electrically connect different groups of stationary contacts atdifferent positions of its linear motion, 4a plate member of insulatingmaterial with which the movable contacter is connected, an actuatorwithin the casing having a portion extending across the space betweenthe terminal head and the opposite fiat wall to maintain the actuatorproperly located between the terminal head and the opposite flat wall,said actuator portion having a transversely sliding engagement with theinsulated member enabling movement of the movable contacter towards andfrom the terminal head, handle means extending from said actuatorexteriorly of the casing, detent means for indicating the position ofthe movable contacter including a tubular niember mounted in an openingin the actuator confined between the detent member and the. insulatedmember carrying the movable con- Y taeter to afford contact pressure andyieldably urge the detent member toward the flat wall.

6. A switch comprising a substantially rectangular casing having an openside, a terminal head closing said open side, contacts carried by theterminal head, a. movable contactor within the casing and adapted forlinear motion across the terminal head to engage different groups ofcontacts at different positions of movement, an actuator' fol` impartinglinear motion to the movable contactor, said actuator being narrowerthan the rectangular casing and having one side slidably engaged withone inner wall of the cas- Y ing, a handle for the actuator extendingeX- teriorly of the casing, and a flange carried by the casing wallopposite lthe termlnal vhead for holding the actuatorl against the firstmentioned inner wall of the casing whereby said actuator is held againstsaid wall to leave a clear space adjacent the opposite wall of thecasing.

7. A switch comprising a substantially rectangular casing open at oneIside and having flat walls, a terminal head closing the open side,stationary contacts carried by the terminal head, a movable contactorwit-hin the casing adapted for linear motion across the terminal head toengage different groups` of contacts at different positions of movement,an actuator for imparting linear motion to the movable contaetor andhaving a handle portion extending exteriorly of the casing, saidactuator and movable contacter being disposed at one side of the casingwith the actuator engaging the adjacent fiat wall, and a flange struckfrom the wall of the casing opposite the terminal head to cooperate withsaid flat wall and guide the actuator and movable contactorrfor linearmotion.

8. In a switch ol the character described, acasing having an open sideand a flat wall opposite said open side, a terminal head closingA theopen side and substantially parallel to said f lat wall, stationarycontacts on said terminal head, a contactor movable across the terminalhead for engagement with the stationary contacts, an actuator within thecasing having portions engageable directly with the terminal head andthe opposite flat wall to hold the actuator in its proper plane ofmovement, an operative connection between the actuator and the movablecontactor enabling free flatwise movement of the contactor towards andfrom the terminal head, and a handle for the actuator projecting fromthe casing.

9, In a switch of thel character described, a casing provided with aterminal head and a flat wall spaced from and parallel with saidterminal head, an actuator within the casing slidably engaged with theflat wall ator carried elements and having a free transverse slidingconnection therewith whereby said contacter is shiftable by the actuatorbutiis free to move and adjust itself to the terminal head.

10. In a switch of the character described, a substantially rectangularcasing havin an open side opposite a fiat wall, a termlnal head closingthe open side and substantially parallel tothe flat wall, stationarycontacts on the terminal head, a movable contactor within the casingadapted for movement endwise with respect to the rectangular casing forselective engagement with the stationary contacts, an actuator withinthe casing to move the contactor, said actuator comprising a wallslidably engaged with said flat casing wall opposite the terminal and aplurality of spaced arms carried by said wall and extending across thespace between the fiat casing wall and the terminal head for slidableengagement with the terminal head to hold the actuator in its properplane of movement within the casing,an operative connection between themovable contacter and said spaced arms whereby movement of the actuatoris imparted to the contactor and the contacter is free to move flatwisetoward andaway from the terminal head` a spring having one end engagedwith the contactor to yieldably urge the same toward the terminal head,the opposite end of said'spring receiving support from the flat casingwall through an opening in the adjacent wall of the actuator, and ahandle for the actuator projecting from the end wall of the casing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

EDGAR M. SORENG.

